Brokers – Titans to signal WR Calvin Ridley to 4-year, $92M deal

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Broad receiver Calvin Ridley is signing a four-year, $92 million contract, together with $50 million assured, with the Tennessee Titans, brokers David Mulugheta and Reza Hesam informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday.

Ridley joins DeAndre Hopkins and Treylon Burks as the highest pass-catchers for second-year quarterback Will Levis.

Tennessee additionally agreed to one-year take care of former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph, a supply confirmed to ESPN. Rudolph’s deal is price as much as $3.62 million in keeping with NFL Community, which first reported the information. Rudolph will compete with third-year quarterback Malik Willis for the backup position behind Levis. The Titans have a 1-2 report in Willis’ three profession begins.

After coming back from a season-long 2022 suspension for violating the NFL’s playing coverage, Ridley caught 76 passes for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns for the Jaguars in 2023. The season opener in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts marked 23 months between video games for Ridley.

He mentioned in January that he needed to return to the Jaguars in 2024 due to the relationships he constructed and the prospect of not having to study one other offensive system, however he wasn’t certain whether or not that might occur, including that cash could be an element.

Ridley, 29, was suspended for the 2022 season after an investigation discovered that he wager on NFL video games over a five-day stretch in November 2021 whereas he was away from the Atlanta Falcons. In a collection of tweets after the suspension, Ridley admitted to bets totaling $1,500 however mentioned he does not have a playing drawback.

Regardless of the ban, the Jaguars acquired Ridley in a commerce with the Falcons on Nov. 1, 2022 — sending a 2023 fifth-round choose and a conditional choose in 2024. Ridley was paid a assured $11.116 million in 2023 on the fifth-year possibility from the rookie deal he signed after being drafted twenty sixth general by the Falcons in 2018.

As a result of the Jaguars didn’t signal Ridley to a brand new contract after the brand new league 12 months started, they may ship a third-round choose to the Falcons to finish the phrases of the 2022 commerce that introduced Ridley to Jacksonville. Had they signed Ridley earlier than the 2023 league 12 months ended, they’d have owed the Falcons a second-round choose.

Ridley was reinstated on March 6, 2023. Two days later, Ridley wrote in a bit for The Gamers’ Tribune that playing on NFL video games was the “worst mistake” of his life.

He additionally mentioned he performed via a foot damage in 2020, bought misdiagnosed with a bone bruise, and ultimately had surgical procedure a few months earlier than coaching camp started in 2021. Ridley mentioned he was mentally drained from coping with the damage and in addition was coping with nervousness associated to a break-in at his dwelling, which is why he ultimately stepped away from the sport on Oct. 31, 2021, saying he wanted to deal with his psychological well being.

Ridley had 248 catches for 3,342 yards and 28 touchdowns in 49 video games with the Falcons, together with 90 catches for 1,374 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2020.

Rudolph, who was picked by the Steelers within the third spherical of the 2018 draft, spent most of his profession in Pittsburgh as a backup earlier than serving to the Steelers to the playoffs with three begins to finish the 2023 common season.

In these video games, the Steelers’ offense averaged 27 factors per sport and 387 yards of offense, and Rudolph threw three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Earlier than 2023, Rudolph’s first prolonged time as a beginning quarterback got here in 2019, when he took over the job following Ben Roethlisberger’s season-ending elbow damage. Rudolph appeared in 10 video games that season, beginning eight, and threw 13 touchdowns to 9 interceptions. The season was a tumultuous one for Rudolph, who suffered a concussion in his first begin, was almost struck by Myles Garrett swinging Rudolph’s helmet, was benched for rookie UDFA Devlin “Duck” Hodges and ultimately ended the season on injured reserve.

However when he took over the beginning job for Kenny Pickett in 2023, teammates and coaches praised Rudolph’s maturity and dedication to placing within the work.

“I believe once you’re going via it — every little thing from being thrown in after which getting knocked unconscious for a bit after which some adversity later within the 12 months in Cleveland after which being benched — I believe it is no enjoyable,” Rudolph mentioned in December. “It is hell whilst you’re going via it, however once you take a step again and breathe, and I am 28 years of age, I am simply ultra-thankful that it occurred. I believe every little thing occurs for a cause, however who needs to undergo a life and haven’t any adversity and simply sort of all the time win? It teaches you classes and it prepares you for all times after soccer.”

For his profession, Rudolph has thrown for 3,085 yards with 19 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 21 video games.

ESPN’s Michael DiRocco and Brooke Pryor contributed to this report.